Coronavirus cases pass 1 million; poor communities left vulnerable; love in the time of corona

Top of The World — our morning news round up written by editors at The World. Subscribe here.

More than 1 million cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed across the globe, with 54,000 deaths and almost 220,000 recoveries. Australia’s chief medical officer warns that cases could be “five to 10 times higher” than reported.

There is evidence that social distancing measures are working, and some countries are succeeding at flattening the curve.  

The pandemic has prompted a global race for treatments and vaccines. But when a treatment does become available, who gets access to it? An adviser to Médecins Sans Frontières warns a monopoly on COVID-19 treatment would be “dangerously stupid.”

And: What New York looked like during the 1918 flu pandemic

Coronavirus highlights US economic disparities

The US Labor Department reported unemployment for March at 4.4%, but that figure does not take into account some jobless claims submitted after states issued more stringent shelter-in-place measures. Economist say nearly 30 million Americans could be out of work by the end of April.  

Location data shows stay-at-home directives are a luxury that many Americans just can’t afford. And it’s exposing the inequality between the wealtiest and the poorest.   

A jump in cases on the Navajo Nation has left leaders concerned about the resources needed to fight the virus on tribal lands with a lagging federal response. One family shares their experience with COVID-19 with the Navajo Times.

Also: Is the Navy doing enough to protect sailors from coronavirus?

And: 11 questions about the coronavirus economic crisis you were too embarrassed to ask

Poor communities in Kenya left vulnerable as coronavirus spreads

In Kenya, the latest mitigation measures against COVID-19 come in the form of a nationwide curfew, which restricts movements of nonessential workers between the hours of 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. But the impact of the new COVID-19 policies have already trickled down to Kenya’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities, especially as the country’s security forces seem willing to go to extreme lengths to enforce them.

In Pictures: Riding Kenya’s matatus amid coronavirus measures

And: India COVID-19 lockdown means no food or work for rural poor

Helping domestic violence survivors during coronavirus lockdowns

Millions of people across the world have been ordered to stay home under the assumption that home is the safest place for them. That’s not the case for people who are now stuck at home with their abusers. A network of women’s organizations in Europe explains how groups are stepping in to help domestic violence survivors.

And: How women are being told to behave around their husbands during lockdown

Russian doctor detained for delivering medical equipment

Anastasia Vasilyeva, the head of Russia’s Alliance of Doctors union, was detained while trying to deliver medical equipment in Novgorod, in western Russia. Vasilyeva has been highly critical of the Russian response to the coronvirus pandemic. She spoke with The World last month about the need for medical supplies: 

“Russia should protect doctors. The government should equip every medical worker with protection, with masks, costumes and so on. It’s very important.”

Many people aren’t putting love on hold during COVID-19

What’s love like in the time of coronavirus? In Spain, 33-year-old Kellyn Bechtold has taken dating during the pandemic to a whole new level. While taking a few days off in Malaga, in southern Spain, Bechtold met an Italian man on the dating app Bumble. They hit it off.

But as the coronavirus outbreak worsened, she told her new Italian beau she would have to return to Madrid. Mr. X, as Bechtold calls him, asked her to move in with him that day. Then Malaga went into lockdown. Now the new pair is quarantined together.

“It’s like a social experiment and one where I’ve found I’ve been able to exercise parts of my heart that I’ve never exercised before. And it’s really lovely.”

Listen: Damn coronavirus! How the Dutch use diseases as curse words

Morning meme

If you’re looking for a fun weekend activity within the confines of your home, the Getty has an artistic challenge for you. (Check out some of the most inspired reproductions.) 

In case you missed it

Listen: Privacy concerns amid government coronavirus tracking tools

Governments around the world are using digital tracking tools to stop the spread of the coronavirus. In Europe, where privacy and data protections are among the strongest in the world, there’s an effort to come up with effective digital tracking tools that are also privacy-friendly. And, the US armed forces are juggling contradictory goals — troop readiness and troop protection. Tensions around these goals are playing out in Guam and elsewhere, as military leaders prepare troops to fight, while trying to shield them from the coronavirus outbreak. Also, pretty much everything seems to have come to a complete halt. But what about romance, relationships and dating? 

Don’t forget to subscribe to The World’s Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: RadioPublic, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, RSS.